The biggest art crawl in the universe, interactive theater at the historic Searle Mansion, Duluth music, mental health at the movies and painted outdoor folklore in Winona — find out more in this week’s MN Shortlist.
Art-A-Whirl in Northeast Minneapolis Arts District — May 15-17
Art-A-Whirl, one of the biggest art events of the year, returns this weekend to the artist mecca that is northeast Minneapolis. The Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association says it’s the largest open artist studio tour in the country and why fact-check that when it feels so true?
The association says more than 1,600 artists, galleries and businesses open their doors at 100-plus locations. Last year, for the art crawl’s 30th anniversary, they estimated there were 120,000 attendees. That said, it’s advised to find alternative forms of transit, from biking and trolleys to free Metro Transit (the Whirl has a handy guide).
Once you’re there, it’s a whirlwind of art demos and markets, live music (The Current also has a handy guide), food trucks and opportunities to meet artists in their workspaces.
A few picks we’re looking at: Community-building a ceramic city at Aldo Moroni Studios all weekend long in the California Building; the “Artlesque: A Dark Mythology Burlesque Show” Saturday at Marble Fae Creative Collective, bra-printing demos Saturday and Sunday at the Casket Arts Building and, most curiously, the “Make Your Own LICK Art (For Dogs)” all weekend long at Logan Park which sounds like it includes loads of peanut butter…